If you are one of those people who want to know about the Author of Global Soccer Peace, then you must first realize that he is not the creator of the game. No, this man is a soccer player that played on several teams in the past and he is now a coach at the helm of the game's governing body - FIFA.
So, why are sports so effective in diplomatic efforts? Because sports tend to warm the heart and sooth the soul. For the most part, sports create good feelings when we watch and play them, so long as we do not allow the negative and more… Read More »Sports Diplomacy: Like Chicken Soup for the Soul
While I was coaching college soccer not that long ago, I had some very talented players on the team. Our best player—one who had trained at the pro level—had incomparable skill and ability, though. He stood out among some great collegiate talent; he was clearly… Read More »The Disgrace of Diving is Ruining the Beautiful Sport of Soccer
Using Sports Diplomacy, Art and Culture to Bridge the Gap between the U.S. and China Are Better Relations Possible between East and West in the Midst of COVID? Source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/crouching_tiger_hidden_dragon Like many, I remember the beautiful, action-packed motion picture from 2000/2001 that was directed by… Read More »Crouching Tiger, Hidden Virus
I have been in the field of international sports diplomacy for well over three decades now. I have assisted in bringing these sports diplomacy programs to some of the most conflict-ridden areas of the world—from Damascus to Jerusalem to Amman and beyond. What I have… Read More »Countering Violence, Extremism, Terrorism and Radicalization in the Middle East and Beyond … Using Sports as an Important Tool for Diplomacy
In a world full of strife, conflict and indecision, in an environment laden with fear and ambivalence, it is important to understand the impact of youth sports on our communities around the world. Our youth need encouragement, guidance, and direction, not to mention role models… Read More »The Importance of Sports in a World of Upheaval
In 1994, the United States hosted a very successful World Cup. While many may remember the event, most do not recall that it was the first time that an officially sanctioned FIFA World Cup game was played indoors. The site was the Pontiac Silverdome in… Read More »FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Perhaps Temporary “Bubble Roof” Stadiums with External Grass for Best Results
Prologue: Uh, no … the term “grass” is not a euphemism for cannabis or something similar. Here, the term “grass” actually means the real thing—the kind animals eat and people have in their yards. It’s the kind that is now sometimes found on fields of… Read More »When it Comes to Soccer and Life, there’s Nothing like Real Grass
Pope John Paul II was a man of true faith. He was also a contemporary, but not a compromiser. He recognized the value of progression, but not at the cost of one’s journey toward the one true God. But he was not only a great… Read More »The Spirituality of Sports According to St. John Paul II
When I traveled to Damascus, Syria in 2007 as part of an international soccer peace mission, the tension was heavy in the air. Although no one on our mission team could ever anticipate what was to come in the form of the brutal aggression and… Read More »Soccer Diplomacy to Avert Another Cold War and/or World War III?
It seems that time flies. In my mind, it was as if they announced the playing of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar just yesterday. Of course, the time is quickly approaching when the nations of the world will converge upon this small Gulf state… Read More »Qatar 2022: A True Opportunity for Peace through Soccer